Every major food delivery, taxi and ride-hailing platform operator in Singapore now recognises an NTUC-affiliated platform work association, following Foodpanda’s formal recognition of the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA).
The move gives NDCA legal standing under the Platform Workers Act (PWA) to formally represent Foodpanda delivery partners on matters including welfare, safety, working conditions and work-related disputes.
It also means platform workers across Singapore’s major food delivery operators now have access to formal representation through an NTUC-affiliated association.
Foodpanda Singapore Logistics Director Ervin Lim and NDCA Executive Secretary Andy Ang signed the recognition agreement on 11 September 2026. The signing was witnessed by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and Foodpanda Singapore Managing Director Bhavani Mishra.
NDCA and Foodpanda have worked together since signing a memorandum of understanding in 2025, including on engagement and training initiatives for delivery partners.
Under the recognition agreement, NDCA will be the sole negotiating body for Foodpanda’s delivery partners, representing them on key work and welfare matters.
Mr Ng said the formal recognition built on years of work by NTUC’s three platform work associations to represent workers in the delivery, taxi and ride-hailing sectors. Together with the PWA, introduced on 10 September 2024, associations also have legal backing to negotiate collectively for platform workers.
“Recognition is only a start. What matters now is for our associations to serve even more platform workers,” said Mr Ng.
“As more platform workers join NDCA, the stronger their collective voice will be, and the better we can take their concerns to our tripartite partners and work towards improved welfare and better work conditions,” he said.
Since the implementation of the PWA, major platform operators have recognised the value of working with NTUC and its affiliated associations and have formalised their relationship over the past year.
Major platforms include CDG Zig, Grab, Gojek, TADA, Trans-Cab and Lalamove.
Since 2025, Foodpanda and NDCA have since worked together on engagement and training initiatives for the delivery partner community.
To encourage participation, Foodpanda will also offer six months of complimentary NDCA membership to delivery partners who sign up as new members. This will give them access to representation, association benefits and support.
Foodpanda Singapore Managing Director Bhavani Mishra said: “This partnership formalises a relationship that has already delivered real, meaningful results on safety and welfare, while giving our delivery partners a structured voice so we can continue shaping solutions together for their welfare and day-to-day work conditions.”
The recognition also comes as NDCA and Foodpanda launch a six-month road safety pilot involving 1,000 delivery partners using bicycles, power-assisted bicycles and other two-wheelers.
The pilot will see retroreflective strips, made to the same specification used for road signage, fitted on delivery bags.
A joint study will assess whether the strips can improve delivery partners’ sense of safety, reduce accidents, reported injuries and work injury compensation claims, as well as whether workers would be willing to adopt them.
If the findings are positive, NDCA and Foodpanda will explore expanding the initiative across the industry.
Road safety remains a key concern for platform workers. In the first half of 2026, vehicular incidents accounted for 38 of the 44 fatal and major injuries involving platform workers.
Mr Ang said the association intended to build on the formal recognition by strengthening its work on both safety and welfare.
“Recognition lets us represent them formally, and we intend to make it count,” he said.
He added that if the retroreflective strips were shown to reduce injuries, NDCA would want to see them adopted more widely among delivery partners in Singapore.
The pilot complements other safety initiatives by Foodpanda. Its “Ride Smart, Ride Safe” video series provides practical guidance on road, weather and delivery safety, while NDCA and Foodpanda are also rolling out first-aid certification with NTUC LearningHub and motorbike safety courses with the Riding Safety Association of Singapore.
Beyond safety, Foodpanda’s panda hearts programme supports delivery partners in areas including well-being, personal development, community and welfare. In 2026, Foodpanda has committed more than S$600,000 to initiatives supporting its delivery partner community.
Find out more about NTUC’s affiliated associations and their offerings.
